The son of Dr. John Wilkins & Mary Catherine (Shell) Armstrong, in 1860, he was a brick maker living in Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He stood 6' 1" tall and had light hair and brown eyes.
A Civil War veteran, he served two terms of service:
1. Enlisted at the stated age of twenty-one in Harrisburg May 8, 1861, mustered into federal service there May 28 as a teamster with Co. H, 7th Pennsylvania Reserves (36th Pennsylvania Infantry), but promoted to corporal November 30, 1861. He suffered a rupture falling over a log during a charge at the battle of Gaines' Mills on June 27, 1862, and was captured. Incarcerated in Richmond, Virginia, he was paroled at Aiken's Landing August 5, 1862. He discharged by surgeon's certificate to date October 20, 1862.
2. Enlisted at the stated age of twenty-three in Carlisle December 31, 1863, and mustered into federal service there January 1 or 2 as 1st sergeant of Co. A, 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry (181st Pennsylvania). Promoted to 1st lieutenant to date April 19, 1865, at Petersburg, Virginia, (although the company register claims he was not discharged as an enlisted man until May 8), he honorably discharged by special order to date June 26, 1865.
He married Lucinda "Lucy" Smith ("a blooming maiden of 17 years") April 30, 1869, in Carlisle and fathered John H. (b. 12/24/69). In 1875, he was living in Harrisburg.
He listed several dates of birth, blaming one of them on his sister because, he said, she didn't know his age despite the fact he was sure he was twenty-one when he enlisted even though the birth date that he insisted with equal fervor was correct made him twenty at enlistment. Cause of his death is listed as a "disease of left lung" with "La Grippe" a contributing factor. His tombstone says he was born in 1843 and only mentions the 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry
There was a second but older John W. Armstrong then living in Silver Spring Township, and they are often confused.
A Civil War veteran, he served two terms of service:
1. Enlisted at the stated age of twenty-one in Harrisburg May 8, 1861, mustered into federal service there May 28 as a teamster with Co. H, 7th Pennsylvania Reserves (36th Pennsylvania Infantry), but promoted to corporal November 30, 1861. He suffered a rupture falling over a log during a charge at the battle of Gaines' Mills on June 27, 1862, and was captured. Incarcerated in Richmond, Virginia, he was paroled at Aiken's Landing August 5, 1862. He discharged by surgeon's certificate to date October 20, 1862.
2. Enlisted at the stated age of twenty-three in Carlisle December 31, 1863, and mustered into federal service there January 1 or 2 as 1st sergeant of Co. A, 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry (181st Pennsylvania). Promoted to 1st lieutenant to date April 19, 1865, at Petersburg, Virginia, (although the company register claims he was not discharged as an enlisted man until May 8), he honorably discharged by special order to date June 26, 1865.
He married Lucinda "Lucy" Smith ("a blooming maiden of 17 years") April 30, 1869, in Carlisle and fathered John H. (b. 12/24/69). In 1875, he was living in Harrisburg.
He listed several dates of birth, blaming one of them on his sister because, he said, she didn't know his age despite the fact he was sure he was twenty-one when he enlisted even though the birth date that he insisted with equal fervor was correct made him twenty at enlistment. Cause of his death is listed as a "disease of left lung" with "La Grippe" a contributing factor. His tombstone says he was born in 1843 and only mentions the 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry
There was a second but older John W. Armstrong then living in Silver Spring Township, and they are often confused.
The son of Dr. John Wilkins & Mary Catherine (Shell) Armstrong, in 1860, he was a brick maker living in Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He stood 6' 1" tall and had light hair and brown eyes.
A Civil War veteran, he served two terms of service:
1. Enlisted at the stated age of twenty-one in Harrisburg May 8, 1861, mustered into federal service there May 28 as a teamster with Co. H, 7th Pennsylvania Reserves (36th Pennsylvania Infantry), but promoted to corporal November 30, 1861. He suffered a rupture falling over a log during a charge at the battle of Gaines' Mills on June 27, 1862, and was captured. Incarcerated in Richmond, Virginia, he was paroled at Aiken's Landing August 5, 1862. He discharged by surgeon's certificate to date October 20, 1862.
2. Enlisted at the stated age of twenty-three in Carlisle December 31, 1863, and mustered into federal service there January 1 or 2 as 1st sergeant of Co. A, 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry (181st Pennsylvania). Promoted to 1st lieutenant to date April 19, 1865, at Petersburg, Virginia, (although the company register claims he was not discharged as an enlisted man until May 8), he honorably discharged by special order to date June 26, 1865.
He married Lucinda "Lucy" Smith ("a blooming maiden of 17 years") April 30, 1869, in Carlisle and fathered John H. (b. 12/24/69). In 1875, he was living in Harrisburg.
He listed several dates of birth, blaming one of them on his sister because, he said, she didn't know his age despite the fact he was sure he was twenty-one when he enlisted even though the birth date that he insisted with equal fervor was correct made him twenty at enlistment. Cause of his death is listed as a "disease of left lung" with "La Grippe" a contributing factor. His tombstone says he was born in 1843 and only mentions the 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry
There was a second but older John W. Armstrong then living in Silver Spring Township, and they are often confused.
A Civil War veteran, he served two terms of service:
1. Enlisted at the stated age of twenty-one in Harrisburg May 8, 1861, mustered into federal service there May 28 as a teamster with Co. H, 7th Pennsylvania Reserves (36th Pennsylvania Infantry), but promoted to corporal November 30, 1861. He suffered a rupture falling over a log during a charge at the battle of Gaines' Mills on June 27, 1862, and was captured. Incarcerated in Richmond, Virginia, he was paroled at Aiken's Landing August 5, 1862. He discharged by surgeon's certificate to date October 20, 1862.
2. Enlisted at the stated age of twenty-three in Carlisle December 31, 1863, and mustered into federal service there January 1 or 2 as 1st sergeant of Co. A, 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry (181st Pennsylvania). Promoted to 1st lieutenant to date April 19, 1865, at Petersburg, Virginia, (although the company register claims he was not discharged as an enlisted man until May 8), he honorably discharged by special order to date June 26, 1865.
He married Lucinda "Lucy" Smith ("a blooming maiden of 17 years") April 30, 1869, in Carlisle and fathered John H. (b. 12/24/69). In 1875, he was living in Harrisburg.
He listed several dates of birth, blaming one of them on his sister because, he said, she didn't know his age despite the fact he was sure he was twenty-one when he enlisted even though the birth date that he insisted with equal fervor was correct made him twenty at enlistment. Cause of his death is listed as a "disease of left lung" with "La Grippe" a contributing factor. His tombstone says he was born in 1843 and only mentions the 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry
There was a second but older John W. Armstrong then living in Silver Spring Township, and they are often confused.
Gravesite Details
1st Leiutenant, Co. A, 20th Regt. Pa. Cav
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